If you’re planning on visiting Russia, or are interested in exploring more about Russian religion, it may be helpful to learn what are the beliefs of the russian orthodox church.
Like many other Christian churches, Russian Orthodoxy shares a number of traditional Christian doctrines–though it often has a slightly more nuanced understanding than its Western counterparts.
Table of Contents
Holy Trinity
The Holy Trinity is one of the central beliefs in the Russian Orthodox church. It means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Christians believe that the Father created the universe, Jesus incarnated to save us, and the Holy Spirit works with Jesus to carry out this mission. Each of the three is fully God and a member of the Triune Godhead.
In the Christian Bible, the terms “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit” are sometimes used interchangeably. Some Christians believe that these names are simply ways of referring to the roles each person plays in God’s plan of salvation.
Others hold that the terms are actually different persons. Those who follow this belief are called trinitarians. The doctrine of the Trinity is important to many people, especially those who are considering becoming Orthodox. It’s a powerful concept that helps them to understand what it means to be a Christian.
Resurrection
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most important beliefs in the Russian Orthodox church. It is the foundation of Orthodoxy and explains why a person is saved by the grace of God.
It is also the reason why a Christian cannot lose his salvation after death. A Christian remains a part of the church even after his physical death and continues to live in heaven, waiting for the return of Christ and for the day of judgement (I Thessalonians 4:17).
In the russian orthodox church, the Resurrection is celebrated with great joy on Easter. The services on this day include Paschal Hours and the Divine Liturgy.
The Divine Liturgy is a long and extended prayer service, full of direct quotes from Holy Scripture. It is a way for the whole Church to worship God together and celebrate His resurrection. It is an important event in the russian orthodox church, and all members are encouraged to attend it.
Holy Mother of God
The Holy Mother of God is a powerful figure in the Russian Orthodox church. She is a powerful symbol of rebirth and restoration and of a pure and uncontaminated faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The russian orthodox believe that Mary is the human mother of Jesus, the son of God who was born miraculously to a virgin. The russian orthodox also believe that she was the first to be resurrected from death, and that she has ascended to heaven to await her Repose in glory.
The russian orthodox consider many icons of the holy mother to be chudotvornaya, “wonder-working.” These icons are believed to help people in various ways. Some are thought to help women in childbirth, while others are believed to be effective in helping students study better.
The Eucharist
The Eucharist is the central event of Orthodox worship. It is a celebration of praise, thanksgiving, and glory to God. It is a moment of mystical communion with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
In the Eucharist we receive the real presence of Jesus’s body and blood, transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This transformation takes place only after the priest offers the Gifts in prayer.
For this reason the russian orthodox church considers the Eucharist to be the most important and a most central sacrament of the Christian faith. It is celebrated on all Sundays, the Day of the Lord, and on feast days.
The sacrament of the Eucharist is an essential part of the russian orthodox faith and is regarded as an edifying experience for all Christians. It also serves as a symbol of the relationship between the individual and God.
